Foreign Minister: No Transparency in Holding Bulgarian Elections Abroad

Diplomacy | November 7, 2009, Saturday

Bulgaria Foreign Minister Jeleva said she was as the disposal of President Parvanov with details for the demanded Ambassadorial recalls. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria will not be able to guarantee the transparency, and the results of the elections it holds abroad unless a new Electoral Code is adopt.

This was stated Saturday by Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister, Rumiana Jeleva, regarding her move to recall the country’s Ambassadors to Turkey and the USA over violations that they allowed during the July 2009 Parliamentary Elections.

“The disciplinary files show there have been violations during the Bulgarian elections abroad many years back in time,” Jeleva told the BNR.

She described the move to recall the Ambassadors from Ankara and Washington as one of the hardest decisions she had to make during her first 100 days in office.

Bulgaria’s Ambassadors to Turkey, Branimir Mladenov, and to the USA, Lachezar Petkov, have violated the MPs Election Act, orders of the Central Electoral Commission, the Diplomatic Service Act, and the Ethical Code, Minister Jeleva explained.

“The fact that we punish them disciplinary does not mean an end to their lives or careers. I just hope that the prosecutors will not find more violations because them they may become legally liable,” the Minister said.

As Bulgaria’s President Parvanov refused earlier on Saturday to sign the government’s decision for the recall of the Ambassadors demanding evidence for their guilt, Jeleva said she was ready to provide all details at Parvanov’s convenience.